1 R is equal to 2.58 × 10 -4 coulombs/kg of air. It is used to quantify the number of ion pairs produced in 1 kg/2.2 pounds (lbs) of air by ionizing radiation (X-ray or gamma radiation). Roentgen (symbol R) is a unit of exposure to ionizing radiation. This article will discuss the basic understanding of different units of radiation, various diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radiation in gastroenterology, the pathogenesis of radiation injury to the GIT, clinical effects of radiation therapy on the GI system, radiation hazards to the patients due to diagnostic and therapeutic GI imaging and procedures, occupational hazards of radiation to the GI endoscopists and the different preventive measures. Gastroenterologists also manage the various GI side effects of radiation therapy. There are radiation hazards to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) from diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy for various GI, urological, gynecological, intra-abdominal, and pelvic malignancies. Radiation therapy is administered to treat different malignancies. Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopists get radiation exposure when they use X-rays/fluoroscopy to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), esophageal, gastroduodenal, and colonic stenting, endoscopic dilation, device-assisted endoscopies, and different interventional procedures where there is combined use of fluoroscopy and endoscopy. Ionizing radiation is widely used in different fields of medicine, including gastroenterology and hepatology, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. On an average, the annual natural radiation exposure to a person living in the United States (USA) includes 2.28 mSv (73%) due to inhalation of radioactive materials, 0.29 mSv (9%) due to ingestion of radioactive materials, 0.33 mSv (11%) from cosmic radiation, and 0.21 mSv (7%) from terrestrial radiation. Uranium can break down and get converted into radon gas which can be found in building materials, rocks, soil and well water. The radioactive materials present in the soil include uranium, thorium, radium, carbon, and potassium. Cosmic radiation occurs due to charged particles, X-rays and gamma rays that come from the sun and stars. We are surrounded by background radiation due to the presence of radioactive materials present in the space (cosmic radiation) and in the earth (terrestrial radiation). Visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, radio waves, and microwaves are examples of non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation cannot ionize atoms or break molecules and chemical bonds, but they cause vibrations due to heat. X-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and positrons are forms of ionizing radiation. In living organisms, ionizing radiation causes the ionization of water to produce H 2O + ions. Ionizing radiation can ionize atoms by displacing an electron from an atom and can break molecules and chemical bonds of living tissues, air, and water. Radiation is broadly classified into ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation.
It originates from a source and travels through space as fast as light. Radiation can be described as the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles.
Keywords: Units of radiation Use of radiation in gastroenterology Radiation esophagitis Radiation gastritis Radiation enteritis Radiation colitis Radiation proctitis Introduction Gastrointestinal complications related to radiation therapy for oncologic processes, and exposure risks for patients and health care providers involved in diagnostic or therapeutic imaging will be discussed in this review. The radiological protection society recommends certain preventive and protective measures to avoid side effects of radiation. Gastrointestinal endoscopists performing fluoroscopy-guided procedures are also at increased risk of malignancy and cataract formation.
Patients with repeated exposure to radiation for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic procedures are at slightly increased risk of malignancy. Radiation can also cause inflammation, fibrosis, organ dysfunction, and malignancy. External beam radiation, internal beam radiation and radio-isotope therapy are the major ways of delivering radiation to the malignant tissue.
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Radiotherapy can injure malignant cells by directly damaging DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids and indirectly by forming free radicals. There are various modalities of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is one of the primary modalities of treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. Radiation is used daily in different gastrointestinal imaging and diagnostic and therapeutic interventional procedures. The benefit of radiation is immense in the field of gastroenterology.
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